Automatic train pipe coupling



Dec. 8, 1931.

J. ROBINSON AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE COUPLING Filed May 4, 1926 IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 8, 1931 mism- OFFICE '--.iosnrn Ronmsoivj on NEW YORK, N. Y.

Annemarie TRAIN PIPE COUPLING Application filed May'4,'192e.- Serial No, 106,718

My invention relates to automatic vtrain pipe couplings, and more particularly to brackets, orf universal supports, for such couplings. Among its objects arev to provide an improved means for permitting universal movementto the coupling head, themeans in eluding especially an improved bracket whichis inexpensive to make, simple, strong, and efiicient. p r

The invention resides in the combinations, arran ements and improvementshereinafter described, pointed out in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawin sinwhich b I 1 5 igure l is a sectional side elevation of my improvement, I Figure 2 is a front elevation of the bracket shown in Figure 1. In this view the member B is shown'in section, and the tie rod is omitted. V y 4 Figure3 is a horizontal sectional view throughthe center of the anchor device or lower end A of the bracket. In this viewthe forward end of the tie rod 20 is shown in elei n- 1 V H V Figure 4 is a section through the lower ends of the halves 5 and the upper portion of the anchor device A taken on substantially the line 44 of Figure 1.

My improved bracketcomprises halves 5 and an anchor device A. The halves are preferably formed of wrought iron by shearing them from a flat bar having the width and thickness ofthe upper end of the halves, 3 though they mayof course be otherwise formed-if desired." The halves span a lug 6v suitably secured to a car coupler (not,

shown) and are bolted to the lug by bolts 7.

From a point approximately nicl-way their length thehalves flare rearwardly as shown especially in' Figure 1. An anchor device A, is arranged to form the lower portion of the bracket. This anchor deviceis provided with a vertically extending flat perforated lug or portion 9. The lug 9 lies between the lowerends of the halves" 5 and is rigidlysecured thereto by a rivet 10, which eXtends transversely through the halves 5 and the lug 9 near the lower end of the halves and by tongues Hand 12 which are formed integralwith the lug 9 and which are turned laterally across the front face of the lower end of thehalves 5 as shown particularly in Figures 2 and 1.: This arrangement produces a very effective means for'locking or tying the anchor device A to the halves 5.

A hollow head supporting member B such as shown 1111111)! corpending application Serial No. 364,920 1led March 11u1, 1920, for'improvenients in automatic train pi econne'ctor s, spans the lower end or anc or device A of my improved bracket. The supporting member comprises spaced straps or sides 14 which lie on opposite sides of the central vertical portion 15 of the anchor device, and these strapsare flared at their rear ends, as 2113116, Figure 1, to bear against the laterally extending, shoulders 17 and 18 of the anchor device, when the automatic connector is in the uncoupled position, thereby properly positioning the pipe or member B and an: pling head (not, shown) The rear end of the member B is "provided with a vertically extending flange 19 with which thestraps 14 are integrah'and this flange is perforated v as shown andnormally bears against the rear side ofthe, anchor device A. Atie rod 20 having a perforated elongated forward end, see

Figure 3, extends through the perforation in the flange 19 and around the middle portion 15 of the anchor device, upon the front face of which portion the tie rod is seated for free universal movement. The opening in the tie rod is large enough to permit it tobe passed upwardly over the projections 17 of the anchor device, and at their oint of contact the tie rod and the anchor evic'e are round in cross. section, and hence flare in opposite directions,fas shown in Figures 1 and3. Between the flange 19, anda suitable adjustable abutment 21 mounted on the rear end of the tie rod, a coil buffer spring 22 is seated. The spring surrounds the tie rod and is normally under sufiicient compression to yieldingly maintain the member B in the desired horizontal coupling position with the flange 19 bearing against the rear side of my improved bracket. The member B is suitably connected to any desired form of coupling head. In the drawings no coupling head is illustrated but a satisfactory type is shown in my aforesaid co-pending application.

In addition to properly positioning the member B, the flared portions 16 of the straps 14 prevent undue rotation of the coupling head when in the normal uncoupled position, such prevention being accomplished by contact of these portions 16 with the laterally extending or over hanging shoulders 17 and 18 of the anchor device A. When the coupling head moves to the coupled position the flange 19 moves rearwardly out of contact with the anchor device, and when in this position the coupling head and member B have limited rotary movement with respect to the bracket. When in this position they also have, by reason of the resiliency of the buffer spring 22 and the large opening through the flange 19, limited vertical and lateral movement independent of movement of the tie rod 20. v

What I claim is:

1. An automatic train pipe coupling comprising in combination, a hollow member adapted to support a coupling head, a tie rod extending into said hollow member through the rear end of the latter, and a bracket extending from above said member downwardly into the hollow thereof and through the forward end of said tie rod, said bracket comprising halves betweenthe lower ends of which a vertically disposed anchor device; is securely locked, said device being provided with laterally extending shoulders for supporting said member.

2. An automatic train pipe coupling comprising in combination, a bracket, a head supporting member spanning the lower end of said bracket, said member being provided at its rear end with a perforated projection, a tie rod extending through said projection and embracing the lower end of said bracket and mounted on the front, face thereof for rocking movement, the lower end of said bracket comprising a separately formed verticall disposed anchor device having transversel y extending portions which prevent dislodgment of said member from .the bracket, and a spring surrounding said tie rod at the rear of the bracket to yieldingly support said-member and said coupling head.

3. A bracket for an automatic train pipe coupling head comprising in combination, a

pair of vertically disposed halves bolted to a lug on a car coupler, an anchor device carbetween the lower end of said halves, and

means for locking the anchor device to said halves, said means comprising a locking element extending transversely through the halves and said lug on the anchor device,

and-havinga portion integral with the last named lug and turned across the front face of one of said halves.

5. An automatic train; pipe connector bracket comprising in combination, a vertically extending member secured to a car coupler lug, an anchor device tied to the lower end of said member by means includlng a portion of the anchor device turned across the face of the member, transversely extending portions on the lower end of said anchor device, and a tie rod seat lying between said portions andthe lower end of said membe a V 'i 6. A bracket for automatic train pipe couplers, comprising in combination, an upper member provided with spaced portions, an anchordevice secured to said upper member and having a lug rigidly secured between said spaced portions, said anchor device having on its front face a seat for a tie rod and also having laterally extending portions for engaging a head-supporting member.

7. A bracket for automatic train pipe couplers, comprising in combination, an upper member provided with spaced portions, an anchor device secured to said upper member and having a lug-rigidly secured between said spaced portions, said device also having two portions thereon which are bent in opposite directions across the face of said upper member, said anchor device having on its front face a seat for a tie rod and also having laterally extending portions for engaging a head supporting member.

8. A. bracket for automatic train pipe couplers, comprising in combination, an upper member and an anchor device formed separately from and rigidly secured to said upper member, said device, having two portions thereon which are bent in opposite directions across the face of said upper member, said anchor device also having on its front face a seat for a tie rod and having laterally extending portions for engaging a head supporting member.

9. An automatic train pipe coupling, com

prising in combination, a hollow member adapted to support a coupling head, a tie rod extending into said hollow member through the rear end of the latter, and a bracket extending from above said member downwardly into the hollow thereof and through the forward end of said tie rod, said bracket comprising an upper member and a vertically disposed anchor deviceformed separately from and secured to the lower end thereof, said device being provided with laterally extending shoulders for engaging said supporting member.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

JOSEPH ROBINSON. 

